New Delhi: Attributing the recent spurt in terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir to turmoil in the militant ranks caused by killing of Jaish top commander Gazi Baba, the Army on September 15 said this loss of confidence was making the ultras to come over-ground leading to killing of over 60 militants in the last fortnight.

"There is total turmoil in the terrorists ranks and this loss of confidence in leadership is making them to come over-ground with fidayeen (suicide) style attacks," Maj Gen D H Summunwar, Army's Additional Director General public information said.

"This suits the Army. We are more than prepared to take them on", Summanwar told reporters and disclosed that in continued operations on the line of control (LoC) and in the hinterland, Army had killed 60 terrorists since September 1.

He said the militants killed were mostly Pakistani mercenaries and included LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba) commanders of Banihal, Pulwama and Poonch.

Asked if Operation Sarp Vinash was still on, Summanwar, the Army's new public face, said anti-terrorist operations were continuing. "As and when we get information about presence of militants we launch operations." he said.

Sidestepping questions on whether the Operation Sarp Vinash and Operation Parakarm were continuing, the General said Army will not allow the Hillkaka feature to be used by militants again as a hideout.

PTI